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I have done a clean minimal install of Ubuntu 20.10 in a VMWare Player virtual machine, running on an Intel Core i9 based PC. I would like to know which compositor is used by default. I am using the default desktop, which I think is Gnome. Possibly it is mutter, as ps -ax | grep -i mutter, shows:

78825 ?        Sl     1:52 /usr/bin/Xwayland :0 -rootless -noreset -accessx -core -auth /run/user/1000/.mutter-Xwaylandauth.GPDI20 -listen 4 -listen 5 -displayfd 6 -listen 7
99042 pts/3    R+     0:00 grep --color=auto -i Mutter

Please can someone confirm if it is mutter, or if not, which one is used?

Simon Bagley
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  • From the release notes. At the heart of Ubuntu 20.10 is the GNOME 3.38 release. This is the latest version of the open source desktop environment and it adds a wealth of improvements throughout the whole desktop stack. https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2020/05/ubuntu-20-10-release-features – David DE Apr 23 '21 at 08:38
  • You used the term compositor never heard that before. It is called a DE or desktop Environment. – David DE Apr 23 '21 at 08:39
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    GNOME Shell's architecture doesn't split out the compositor - it's a part of GNOME Shell (it is indeed mutter, but you won't see it running separately). What exactly are you trying to determine here? – muru Apr 23 '21 at 08:55
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    @muru You may want to develop your comment into an answer. – vanadium Apr 23 '21 at 09:19
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    @vanadium waiting to see what exactly OP wants to find out. If OP's looking to detect the desktop environment, there's a dupe for that – muru Apr 23 '21 at 09:21
  • @muru I am trying to find out the best way of achieving an unusual split of user focus between applications, and I am thinking maybe a custom compositor may be the way of achieving this. – Simon Bagley Apr 25 '21 at 09:39
  • @SimonBagley you cannot use a custom compositor with GNOME Shell, you'll have to ditch that altogether and use something like MATE or Xfce. – muru Apr 25 '21 at 09:40

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@muru answered my question - the compositor is mutter. Looks like I was going down the wrong path with the Gnome desktop anyway. Looks like I need to use MATE or Xfce in order to use a custom compositor.

Simon Bagley
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